Primary Chemoprevention Still Lacks Favor with General Physicians and Patients

Eighteen years ago, research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research's conference indicated that both patients and primary care physicians were hesitant to adopt chemoprevention due to concerns about risks, side effects, and a lack of clear guidelines. Studies showed low usage rates of chemopreventive agents like tamoxifen and raloxifene, with only 11% of physicians using tamoxifen for breast cancer prevention. Physicians cited insufficient knowledge and time for discussions as barriers, while patients were reluctant due to perceived risks and side effects. The difficulty in identifying high-risk patients and the limited perceived benefit of chemoprevention further contributed to its infrequent use. The need for better information and public awareness was highlighted as crucial for increasing acceptance and usage of chemoprevention strategies.